DATE=1/27/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-244776
TITLE=U-N - IRAQ / NEXT STEP (L - ONLY)
BYLINE=MAX RUSTON
DATELINE=UNITED NATIONS
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: DIPLOMATS ON THE UNITED NATIONS SECURITY COUNCIL SAY THEY
MADE SOME PROGRESS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN DISCUSSIONS ON IRAQ. THE
COUNCIL IS TRYING TO BRIDGE DIVISIONS OVER ITS POLICIES ON IRAQ,
PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF DISARMAMENT. V-O-A'S UNITED NATIONS
CORRESPONDENT MAX RUSTON REPORTS.
TEXT: THE LATEST COUNCIL TALKS ON IRAQ FOCUSSED ON A MODIFIED
VERSION OF A CANADIAN PROPOSAL FIRST SUBMITTED LAST WEEK.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CELSO NUNEZ AMORIM OF BRAZIL SAYS THE DOCUMENT
IS HELPING TO CREATE A CONSENSUS ON HOW TO MOVE FORWARD ON IRAQ.
/// AMORIM ACT ///
I THINK WE ARE SLOWLY GETTING CLOSER TO POSSIBLE
AGREEMENT.
/// END ACT ///
THE DOCUMENT PROPOSES THE FORMATION OF THREE PANELS CONCERNING
IRAQ. THE FIRST WOULD FOCUS ON DISARMAMENT ISSUES, THE SECOND ON
HUMANITARIAN ISSUES AND THE THIRD ON KUWAITI PRISONERS OF WAR
FROM THE GULF WAR. THE PANELS WOULD BRING TOGETHER ALL RELEVANT
INFORMATION ON THE THREE ISSUES, AND CREATE A BASIS FOR
DISCUSSING WHAT TO DO NEXT.
CANADIAN AMBASSADOR ROBERT FOWLER STRESSES THAT THE PROPOSAL IS
AIMED AT ESTABLISHING A PROCEDURE FOR DISCUSSING MORE DIFFICULT
ISSUES AND NOT THE ISSUES THEMSELVES.
/// FOWLER ACT ///
I WAS FAIRLY HEARTENED BY OUR LONG DISCUSSION TODAY ON
THE BASIS OF OUR MOST RECENT DRAFT. BUT I WOULD
REITERATE THE FACT THAT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS
PROCEDURE. WE ARE NOT NOW NEGOTIATING WHAT IS NOW GOING
TO HAPPEN IN IRAQ. WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IS HOW TO
GET TO A DISCUSSION OF WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN IRAQ,
AND ON THAT I AM FAIRLY CONFIDENT.
/// END ACT ///
THE SECURITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN DIVIDED OVER HOW TO PROCEED WITH
IRAQI DISARMAMENT ISSUES SINCE THE UNITED STATES AND BRITAIN
LAUNCHED MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRAQ IN DECEMBER. THE UNITED
STATES AND BRITAIN SUPPORT THE U-N WEAPONS INSPECTION COMMISSION,
UNSCOM. RUSSIA, CHINA AND FRANCE WANT TO ELIMINATE OR REPLACE
UNSCOM. THEY SAY IT IS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED AND HAS LOST ITS
CREDIBILITY ... A CHARGE UNSCOM DENIES.
THE CANADIAN PROPOSAL DISCUSSED WEDNESDAY SUGGESTS THAT UNSCOM
PARTICIPATE IN THE PANEL ON DISARMAMENT ISSUES IN IRAQ.
DIPLOMATS SAY SOME COUNTRIES, PARTICULAR RUSSIA, ARE CONTINUING
TO PRESS FOR CHANGES THAT WOULD REDUCE UNSCOM'S INVOLVEMENT IN
THE DISCUSSION PROCESS. (SIGNED)
NEB/UN/MPR/LSF/PT
27-Jan-99 4:53 PM EST (2153 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.